Saturday, August 5, 2017

Anti-Aging Skin Series Post 11: "Natural Facial Moisturizer"

What is next on the "Anti-Aging Skin Series"? Has that question been on your mind lately? If so, I am here to give you some insight into the next few posts. Over the last few months, three skin moisturizers have been broken down by ingredient list. Additionally, certain insight was given in some cases to the reason why each ingredient is in each product. I have experimented with writing different ways to blog about a given product. I have yet to find a method that works for me.

In light of that, I will continue down the current path of introducing a skin care product with an ingredient list in an introductory post. Next, I will follow up with insight into the ingredients and briefly compare to previous blog posts. If you have any suggestions contact us through twitter or Facebook. And after the current product is analyzed, I will break the series with a brief discussion regarding science research that sheds light on using DNA as a sunscreen. Yes, I mean DNA - Deoxyribonucleic Acid -- the genetic code of life. First, lets move onto another skin care product which has claims which differ from the previous products discussed in the series so far.

Without further ado, I chose to sway off of the previous path of analyzing "mainstream" products made by large corporations and chose to try to go small. The product I chose to look at in this post is made by "Lush Cosmetics" which claims to be all "hand made cosmetics". Specifically, a facial moisturizer called "Shangri LA". You might be wondering how I chose this product. I was walking in the mall and spotted the store (in the Galleria in Glendale, CA, USA) - and could not help but stop by to check out the products and their claims. In this first post, I will list the ingredients with their function in the product. The definitions and functions are taken from the Environmental Working Group's "Skin Deep Data Base". I use this data base to illustrate the fact that you can use the same data base to get answers regarding other products which I might be looking at presently.

Here is the front of the 'Facial Moisturizer' shown below:

And here is the backside of the moisturizer with the ingredient list shown below:

About GLYCERIN: Glycerin (also called glycerol) is a naturally occurring alcohol compound and a component of many lipids. Glycerin may be of animal or vegetable origin. This ingredient is listed in the PETA's Caring ... read more

About STEARIC ACID: Stearic acid is a naturally occurring fatty acid. It is listed in the PETA's Caring Consumer guide as a substance of animal origin, since stearic acid is primarily derived from rendered fat of farm.

Other LOW concerns: Ecotoxicology, Endocrine disruption
About BENZYL SALICYLATE: Benzyl Salicylate is an ester of benzyl alcohol and salicylic acid; this ingredient has been associated with allergies and contact dermatitis.

Other LOW concerns: Ecotoxicology
About GERANIOL: Geraniol is a naturally occurring scent ingredient found in various essential oils such as rose oil and citronella oil.

Function(s): Fragrance Ingredient; MASKING; TONIC

20) Benzyl Benzoate:

Other HIGH concerns: Occupational hazards; Other LOW concerns: Ecotoxicology, Endocrine disruption
About BENZYL BENZOATE: Benzyl benzoate is used as solvent and preservative; associated with allergies and contact dermatitis.

Function(s): Fragrance Ingredient; Solvent; ANTIMICROBIAL; MASKING

21) Farnesol:

About FARNESOL: Farnesol is a flavor and perfume ingredient found in nature and also manufactured synthetically; associated with allergies and contact dermatitis.

About METHYLPARABEN: Methylparaben is in the paraben family of preservatives used by the food, pharmaceutical, and personal care product industries. Parabens mimic estrogen and can act as potential hormone (endocrine) system disruptors.

About PROPYLPARABEN: Propylparaben is in the paraben family of preservatives used by the food, pharmaceutical, and personal care product industries. Parabens mimic estrogen and can act as potential hormone (endocrine) system disruptors.

Function(s): Fragrance Ingredient; Preservative; PERFUMING

Conclusion:

The ingredient list is full of interesting names which inspires curiosity as to their 'healing' efficacy. I thought that the ingredient list was cleverly written. I was exhausted in reading the list. Which caused me suspicion of the manner in which the ingredients were listed. In the next post, I will dive in further into the list and compare to the claims of the product manufacturer. Your assignment (yes, the reader - you) is to review the list of the other three products and find differences. This will help you understand the importance of each ingredient in the Shangri LA above.